I arrived at Slade’s home just before seven o’clock the following morning and he threw open the door, grinning sheepishly at me.

He was dressed in his work clothes, a white button-down shirt minus the tie and a pair of charcoal grey pants which showed off his firm frame.

I felt an unexpected fission of excitement staring at him, but I maintained my flippant expression.

“I passed out on you last night, didn’t I?” he said, shaking his head.

I laughed and shrugged nonchalantly.

“I didn’t take it personally,” I replied as Rocco jumped up to lick my face eagerly. I was almost knocked down by the weight of the friendly beast and Slade struggled to control him, but I didn’t mind.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, staring pensively at his face. He seemed a lot more relaxed than the previous day.

“I feel great,” he told me, leading the way inside. He gestured for me to follow him toward the kitchen where he had poured two cups of coffee and I was touched by the gesture.

He poured me a coffee. He was looking forward to seeing me, I realized, and warmth touched my cheeks.

I felt inexplicably shy for a moment.

“I don’t know how you take yours,” Slade said apologetically. “But I have cream or milk if you want and sugar of course.”

“Black is fine. Thank you.”

I sat with him as Rocco licked my hand in excitement.

“I feel really bad about last night,” he explained, and I laughed.

“I don’t. I had a good time and I slept better knowing that you were more relaxed.”

His hands closed around the coffee mug and he studied my face closely.

“Are you really this selfless?” he asked quietly. “I don’t think I’ve ever known a woman like you.”

I felt a slow blush form on my cheeks and I chuckled, trying to brush off the compliment.

“It isn’t selfless to want the people around you to be healthy and happy,” I responded, taking a sip of my coffee. It was surprisingly delicious, and I nodded in approval.

“It’s humane.”

“Whatever it is, it makes you a rarity,” Slade insisted. “Can I take you out again tonight?”

I peered at him nervously and inexplicably, the thought of Troy Caspian popped into my mind.

What was he doing at the house last night?

I didn’t want to admit that seeing him there had bothered me more than it should have.

“You’re frowning,” Slade said, shaking his head. “You’re all put off by me falling asleep.”

I shook my head, forcing the thought of Troy from my mind.

“Not at all. I’m glad you felt comfortable enough with me to do that,” I replied quickly but I did feel apprehensive about agreeing to see him again that night.

I didn’t want to give Slade false hope about us after all.

Yet I did want to see him again.

Was I worried about giving myself false hope?

I raised my eyes, a response ready to spring from my lips and I started in surprise.

He had moved from his spot while I was lost in thought and crouched at my side, his azure eyes looking up at me imploringly.

Without a second thought, I reached out to touch his face, my palms cupping his hands as I nodded.

“Yes,” I agreed. “I would like that.”

His face lit up and slowly, he raised his body, his lips almost brushing against mine.

I gnawed on my lower lip, ready to taste his mouth, my gaze on his.

The sense which swept through me was unfamiliar yet primitive and when our skin touched, the electricity coursing through me was unlike anything I had ever felt before.

I shoved aside the feelings of doubt I had when his tongue teasingly met mine and I exhaled, embracing the warmth flowing through my body.

I pulled back slightly to look at him curiously.

“Don’t you have to get to work?” I asked, a part of me hoping he said yes even though I wanted him to continue what he had started.

I think I feared what would happen if I allowed our heated flirtation to spread beyond what it was.

He smiled softly.

“What work?” he asked innocently but before I could respond, his lips met mine again and I sighed.

He rose, pulling me along with him as his arms embraced my back and pulled me to him.

Eagerly, I felt my mouth part, closing my eyes to enjoy the pleasures I knew were about to ensue.

Tighter his arms closed around me and I could feel the muscular curves of his body against mine.

A rush of heat flowed through me as his mouth worked down my chin toward my throat.

Gooseflesh exploded over my skin as he danced me back through the kitchen, but I barely noticed we were moving through the hallway until I fell onto the sofa in the neighboring living room.

Sunlight was peeking through the bay window, casting a halo around Slade’s golden head.

My fingers swirled through his curls, guiding his head lower across the front of my tank top while his hands fumbled to undo his shirt.

I set him back, pulling my top over my head and yanking him down, wanting to feel the warmth of his flesh against mine.

Sinking back into the soft cushions, I purred happily, his mouth exploring the taut skin around my nipples before taking my breast into his mouth.

Together we managed to lose our pants and in seconds my thighs had locked around Slade’s ears and his tongue played along my skin toward my center.

He nuzzled at my silken panties, each sniff causing me to shiver with anticipation while his long hands spread over my chest, falling tenderly over my stomach as if he meant to touch every inch of me.

When his finger finally pushed aside my underwear, I was beyond ready for him, my own hands moving to cover my rising breasts.

I moaned with the first long lick and Slade’s palms scooped around my buttocks, pulling himself deeper into my core.

My own fingertips toyed with my hardened nipples, relishing the smooth strokes of Slade’s movements and I felt his fingers dig into me as my frame tensed beneath him.

He was going to make me cum in seconds, his thumb delving between my cheeks to manipulate the tenderness between my thighs.

I cried out, my legs tensing around his head as a long finger slipped inside me, coaxing me into the climax on which I was edging.

I shuddered, reaching out for support as I released against him, but his licks did not slow, and he sucked on my throbbing button, pulling every drop of ecstasy from me.

Again I exploded, my hips moving upward inadvertently as his digits thrust into me.

“Oh my God,” I gasped, powerless to stop the seemingly endless flow of nectar.

As I lay quivering, Slade raised his head and stared at me with vivid blue eyes and I shook my head, my voice gone.

Suddenly he was on top of me, his mouth at my ear.

“You taste as sweet as I knew you would,” he whispered, and the words sent more heat coursing through me.

I was dizzy with pleasure and when he raised my ankles around his head I could not stop staring into the cerulean irises as if they were boring into my soul.

When he entered me, I screamed out, shocked by the sheer size of him.

I had not been expecting such girth but when he froze, my hands clenched against his rear, drawing him further inside. I wanted to feel every inch of him, filling me to places I had never felt.

It was difficult to breathe as his member prodded into me, slowly at first but with my encouragement, his momentum built and soon I was crying out, begging him for more as his face twisted in concentration.

My ankles locked against him, my waist raising to feel his constricting sack against my behind.

We were a sliding, slippery mess as I continued to cum against him, losing sense of reality until I heard him grunt, his body stiffening against me as he jerked spasmodically.

Hot streaks spurted into me and I moaned aloud, biting on my lower lip as I stared at his face in disbelief.

Slade was coated in sweat, breathing heavily as he looked at me through impassioned eyes as if he was trying to recapture his bearings.

Slowly, I unhooked my legs from around his neck, realizing how firm was my grip against him.

“Oh my God,” I muttered again as he fell back against the couch. “You are incredible.”

Slade laughed, his eyebrows arching.

“Funny, I was going to say the same thing about you.”

Our eyes locked and I felt a flutter in my heart.

This is ridiculous. You barely know this guy and he doesn’t fit into your life at all. He’s got nothing in common with you, he’s full of stress and you don’t date.

But I couldn’t deny that the feelings I was experiencing went beyond mere attraction.

I had to walk away before things got too serious…didn’t I?

How would it even work? I couldn’t continue living in Mal’s house with a boyfriend. What kind of future could Slade and I have with my past? He was too normal, too vanilla.

I shook me head as the thoughts going through my head.

Boyfriend? Future? You’ve known this guy two days. You’re high on sex hormones.

Rocco barked from the doorway and I was suddenly granted an opportunity to escape before things got awkward.

“Oh! Poor Rocco!” I said, jumping from the couch and I looked about for my clothes which seemed strewn in every corner of the room.

“He’s okay. Just wait a second,” Slade protested but I was already half-dressed and avoiding his eyes.

“Come on, Rocco,” I called, heading into the hallway for his leash. “Have a great day at work, Slade!”

“Maya wait!” he yelled back but I had already slammed out of the front door, my heart racing wildly.

I didn’t know how to process what was going through my head and heart, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to think rationally with Slade nearby.

I needed to distance myself and figure out what I was doing without anyone influencing me.

What you are feeling is nothing more than an intense attraction, I told myself as Rocco and I headed away from Slade’s townhouse.

But as we made our way toward Whitehurst Point, I tried to think of a time when I had ever been so drawn to another person.

And I could not.

I ensured that Slade had left for work before I returned Rocco home, checking to see if his car was gone from the garage as I led the mastiff inside the house.

I was late for my other clients but somehow that seemed less important than avoiding Slade that morning.

The remainder of the day went by in a daze and when I called Chase to pick me up in the early afternoon, I was surprised that Mal came instead.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, climbing into his hybrid and peering at him with concern. “Is Chase okay?”

Mal nodded, smiling at me briefly.

“Yeah, I just thought maybe we could grab lunch. There’s a new vegetarian restaurant on Broad.”

I nodded in agreement. I hadn’t eaten all day and between the workouts I had gotten, I had to admit I was starving.

As it had all day, the memory of Slade’s lips on my skin came sweeping through like a warm rain and I had to shove it aside to focus on Malcolm.

It was odd for Mal to come for me without a forewarning.

Not that I minded; he was my best friend and confidant, but I knew him well.

Maybe too well.

“Are you okay?” I asked as my cell chimed in my purse. I reached for it, my eyes on my housemate.

“Yes,” he replied slowly, eyeing my cell with unusual curiosity. “Who is that?”

I glanced at the screen and then back at him, my brows knitting.

It was also strange for him to ask me anything about my personal interactions.

We talked about everything, yes, but for him to blatantly ask…

“It’s Slade,” I replied, putting the phone back in my purse without responding. I still needed to get my head in order before I spoke to him.

I didn’t know how I was going to handle whatever was happening, not yet.

Malcolm’s body seemed to relax, and he nodded.

“What’s going on?” I demanded as he steered the car toward the main street in town. “You’re acting weird.”

Malcolm shook his head.

“Nothing…”

I stared at him waiting for the completion of his thought, but he didn’t elaborate.

Shrugging, I flopped back against the car’s seat.

How would he feel if he thought I was falling in love with someone?

I gasped aloud at the inane thought.

I can’t be falling in love with Slade Payne. I don’t know him, and I don’t fall in love.

But it seemed like the more I fought with the idea, the more the feelings seemed to consume me, and I couldn’t get Slade’s face out of my mind.

“You seem distracted,” Mal commented as we pulled into the parking lot. “Something on your mind?”

Suddenly I felt defensive.

Is he sensing something about me and Slade and getting jealous?

It seemed unlikely. Mal was really not the jealous type.

He had engaged in relationships with women which were more serious than what we had, and we still maintained a healthy friendship.

I think in the end we always knew we would outlast any sparkly honeymoon affections newcomers might provide.

But it was clear that something was eating away at him.

“No,” I replied evenly. “Nothing is on my mind.”

I realized then that I had a guilty conscience.

I should be talking to Malcolm about whatever is going on with Slade, I thought. He’s your best friend outside of Vy and Yve. And we all know what insights my sisters will provide if I bring this to them.

Still, I wasn’t ready to talk about it.

Not yet.

How can I talk about it? It doesn’t make any sense.

Malcolm nodded, his eyes averted as he removed the keys from the ignition.

“All right,” he said.

Suddenly he whipped his head around and looked at me, his brown eyes filled with sincerity.

“You know I have always got your back, right, My?” he asked tenderly, and I felt a small fission of apprehension flow through me.

“Mal, what is going on?” I demanded but he shook his head again and forced a smile.

“Nothing,” he insisted. “I just want you to know that. Come on. I’m starving.”

He leapt from the car before I could press him further and I reluctantly followed him.

My well-honed sixth sense was warning me that Malcolm was trying to tell me something important, something unrelated to our open friends with benefits situation.

I wondered why he didn’t simply come out and say what it was.

I caught up with him and put my hand on his arm.

“Mal, I can tell something is up. What is on your mind?”

He sighed heavily and grit his teeth together.

“I just keep getting this awful feeling that something bad is going to happen to you,” he confessed.

The words sent chills through me and I studied his face closely.

He was being sincere, that I could see and that terrified me.

For if there was one thing I knew about Malcolm, he was very rarely wrong about anything, especially not where I was involved.